







In English we use the present simple tense to talk about facts or things that are always true, as well as things in general. Present simple is also used to talk about a repeated action such as a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens.
In English we use 'do' and 'does' as auxiliary verbs in negatives and questions and we often use the present simple with adverbs of frequency such as sometimes, always, often, never, usually, rarely, and hardly ever.
Notes for use of present simple :
In the third person, ‘s’ is added to the verb form. For example;
work --> works
run --> runs
live --> lives
For verbs that end in 'o', 'sh', 'ch', 's' and 'x', we add 'es' to the verb form. For example;
go --> goes
wish --> wishes
watch --> watches
kiss --> kisses
fax --> faxes
For verbs that end in a consonant + 'y', we change the 'y' to 'i' and add 'es'. For example;
try --> tries
study --> studies
The table below shows the different forms of present simple :
Example Verb : Work | I / You / We / They | He / She / It |
| Positive | ... work. | ... works. |
| Negative | ... don't work. | ... doesn't work. |
Questions | Do ... work? | Does ... work? |
| Short answers | Yes, ... do. / No, ... don't. | Yes, ... does. / No, ... doesn't. |
For the verb 'to be' we use 'am', 'is', 'are' in the present simple. No auxiliary verbs are used in negative sentences and questions.
Verb: Be | I | You / We / They | He / She / It |
| Positive | I'm ... | ... 're ... | ... 's ... |
| Negative | I'm not ... | ... aren't ... | ... isn't ... |
| Questions | Am I ... ? | Are ... ...? | Is ... ...? |
| Short answers | Yes, I am. / No, I'm not. | Yes, ... are. / No, ... aren't. | Yes, ... is. / No, ... isn't. |
Present Simple Example Sentences :
Positive Examples of Present Simple :
Negative Examples of Present Simple :
Question Examples of Present Simple :
| Present simple example sentences | |
|---|---|
| Okay, we have all the things we need, then. | |
| Maybe I know your friend. | |
| She could even have been her mum... Who knows? | |
| Okay, I found it... but it looks filthy! | |
| Does the kid think he is a robot or the robot think it's a kid? | |
| I'm on my way to Brighton, nearly there! | |
| Yeah, our room has only got one window! | |
| And sometimes they don't come home for days. | |
| Hang on, there is another web site that says... | |
| What's your plan, Cate? | |
| Also, one of my friends works there. | |
| Who is Mike, darling? | |
| Thank you, I'm 26. | |
| Hmm.. yes, I need mushrooms, stock, celery... | |
| It's individually, the small ones are 30p, big ones 50p. | |
| I don't like smoking in the kitchen. | |
| It says best before 25th of February. | |
| I've checked some, there is nothing I like so far. | |
| They weigh everything at the checkout. | |
| I see, I love cooking! | |